Posted on 12/03/2008 10:19:06 PM PST by voiceinthewind
Shock: Evangelical Leader Believes in Gay Civil Unions, Says OK to Vote for Obama
By John-Henry Westen
WASHINGTON, December 3, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Chief Lobbyist and Vice President for Governmental Affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) gave an interview to National Public Radio yesterday in which he admitted to shifting on gay “marriage,” voting for Barack Obama and having a marked distaste for Sarah Palin. Richard Cizik, spokesman for the NAE, which represents 45,000 US churches, told NPR yesterday that he voted for Obama in the Virginia primary but didn't want to reveal how he voted in the general election.
"I happen to think in the primary he was the best choice," said Cizik of Obama. Cizik explained that he held party philosophy and the character of the candidate above particular issues. He thus suggested: "It would be possible to for Evangelicals to disagree with Barack Obama on same sex marriage and abortion and yet vote for him."
Cizik expressed an obvious distaste for Sarah Palin, citing her stand on the environment as "ignorance" and accusing her of lacking in humility, a trait which he says he admired in Obama.
Asked if he had changed his mind on homosexual “marriage,” Cizik replied, "I'm shifting I have to admit. In other words I would willingly say that I believe in civil unions. I don't officially support redefining marriage from its traditional definition I don't think."
He advocated that Evangelicals change focus away from the homosexual “marriage” debate. Revealingly, he said on the subject, "Maybe we need to reevaluate this and look at it a little differently. I'm always looking for ways to reframe issues. Give the biblical point of view a different slant."
Cizik said he would "absolutely" support Obama in his scheme to reduce abortions by "government supplying contraception." He explained, "We're not Catholics who oppose contraception per se."
Listen to the NPR interview here: http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=...
They have been among the leaders in trying to bring women into offices reserved for men in both scripture and the book of church order. They have had women deacons for some time - they try to evade the rules by calling them ‘commissioned’ rather than ‘ordained’.
They might be able to fool the young folks, but not those of us old enough to remember where that path leads.
Never heard of the guy. I would probably be considered an evangelical; I really dislike self annointed/appointed “spokesmen/woman for any “group”.
He sounds like just another guy who figured out a gig to earn a paycheck.
No true Christ follower (that means someone who has read the Bible, understands what it teaches, and follows those core teachings) could possibly have beliefs like this. It’s impossible, as it directly contradicts core beliefs of the OT and NT.
Interesting. Though I’m not sure it’s fair to say they’re “fooling” the young people who make up such a large segment of their congregation—this is Manhattan, where most are probably happy to have a church somewhat more liberal than the PCA as a whole.
I was thinking not so much of their congregation - they are doing a good job of conforming to the world there - but of the denomination as a whole, where some younger preachers can probably be bamboozled into thinking that ‘deaconesses’ are the end of the road, rather than just a beginning step on the path.
Cizik was a close associate and supporter of NAE President Ted Haggard during his recent gay prostitution scandal.
Any Christians still in the NAE really need to clean house.
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